Tag Archives: Matthew

Jesus is the Messiah

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on May 25, 2015
Tags: , Matthew,   

Worth Troubling About — Rev. David J. Schreffler

May 25, 2015

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:28 – 30

“So long as we are hated, we are worth troubling about. The church that would give only a moral tone to secular movements can die of its own inanition. If the pagan forces of the world left us untouched, if they did not calumniate (defame) us, seek to destroy us, set up rival claimants to the soul, it would mean that we would have lost our influence, that our touch was gone, our stars did no longer shine.” Fulton J. Sheen (1895 – 1979) “For All The Saints” volume IV (p. 27-27)

Fulton J. Sheen – Venerable Fulton John Sheen (born Peter John Sheen, May 8, 1895 – December 9, 1979) was an American bishop (later archbishop) of the Roman Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio. “So long as we are hated, we are worth troubling about.” Fulton Sheen goes on to say “The Church can still make the evil forces of the world angry.” One way that we know that we are making a difference in spreading the Gospel of Jesus is how much evil tries to slow us down if not try to entirely knock us off course. Jesus is teaching his disciples the fact that being people of “the way” is not going to be easy sailing. And yet, the Father does not forsake us or forget about us. Now that does not mean that in the midst of the storms of our lives we may feel as if we are sailing all alone. But Christ is always with us – and when evil forces step forward to try to sink us, we have the pleasure of knowing that Christ has won the battle already.

Recently my wife and I experienced the presence of evil in the midst of a family emergency. The effect and the presence of evil was so noticeable we knew what was facing us in the process of trying to seek help for this family member. But as we persevered, we found that evil was defeated through the presence of peace, prayer, and love. Evil does not like peace, prayer and love. Be an agent of peace, prayer and love today and make evil angry.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on May 22, 2015
Tags: , Matthew   

Slip Slidding Away — Rev. David J. Schreffler

May 22, 2015

“When Jesus got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but (Jesus) he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” The he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:23 – 26

“Hold fast to the rudder of faith, that you may not be shaken by the heavy storms of this world. The sea, indeed, is vast and deep, but do not fear for “He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waves.” …the Church of the Lord amid all the seas of the world stands immovable, built, as it were, upon the apostolic rock. The waves pour over it, but it is not shaken.” Ambrose, Bishop of Milan (333 – 397) “For All The Saints”, Volume III (p. 1257)

I was watching the news the other day, and I saw a story about a cruise ship that was caught in a storm with waves towering 30 feet or more – tossing the ship and its contents to and fro. They showed a video link of people on one of the decks of the ship who were trying to get to one place or another, only to have the ship suddenly tilt and the people were tossed or sent sliding in the opposite direction. A piano was sliding back and forth, knocking anything and everything out of its way. A poor woman, sliding from one side of the room to another narrowly missed the piano but slid headfirst into a pole.

My friends, there are going to be days where we feel as if we have been run over by a piano, or slammed our heads into a pole. But Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us. Jesus is the one who picks us up and says “Do not be afraid” – these storms are going to happen but they teach us more about ourselves and our faith than all the calm seas of our lives. Calm seas give us a false hope that life will always be sunshine and smooth water. Our faith in Jesus prepares us for the storms, and reminds us that Jesus is there before the storm, during the storm, and after the storm to pick us up with the promise of life now, and eternal life.

Pastor Dave